Senegal protests

The European Union's condemnation of the violence in Senegal stopped short of commenting on the controversial ruling that allows incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade to run  for a third term in office in elections scheduled for late February.  A spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Tuesday that "the EU condemns in the strongest terms all acts of violence."

The German Foreign Ministry has also expressed concern. A statement called on the Senegalese government to ensure that elections would be free, fair and peaceful.

In the capital Dakar demonstrators were planning to take to the streets again in a fresh round of protests.

One protester and a bystander were shot dead by police on Monday night. According to the rights group Amnesty International, police opened fire on a crowd that had gathered to demonstrate against the decision by the Constitutional Council enabling President Wade to stand again. The EU statement also expressed sympathy to the families of the victims.

The 85-year-old incumbent president took office in 2000. The following year, a constitutional amendment came into effect stipulating that a president can only serve a maximum of two terms before making way for a successor. Wade argued that this did not apply to him as his first term began before the amendment was enacted. 

The Council's decision was swiftly followed by street protests on Friday, with enraged demonstrators torching barricades and buildings in Dakar and clashing with riot police. One policeman was killed. There were chaotic scenes, with burning tyres, stones hurled at police, and the air filled with teargas.  Wade's critics say he has neglected Senegal's poor and accuse him of corruption.

Demonstrators were also angry at the Constitutional Council's decision to ban popular singer Youssou N'Dour from running for the presidency, saying he had not collected the required number of signatures. Two other opposition politicians were also banned.

Meanwhile, police are reported to have released opposition member Alioune Tine after holding him for two days. Tine, who heads the opposition alliance M23, said he had been questioned about President Wade's renewed candidacy. He said he thought his release was partly due to pressure from foreign embassies in the capital.

The West African country has long been held up as a model for democracy but is now frequently witnessing scenes of violence in the run up to the elections due to be held on 26 February. 

Author: Susan Houlton (dpa, AFP)
Editor: Mark Caldwell / rm